photos by david salkil

wheels

Work T7R2P with gunmetal faces and hairline lips 19x10 -24 F & 19x11 -39 R

suspension

Megan Racing Street Coilovers
Megan Racing Rear Camber Arms

exterior

326power lugs in purple
Pandem style kit modified to fit series 1 front bumper
KBD front bumper 
Stainless hardware
RMagic carbon fiber wing with carbon side panels 
RMagic rear tow strap
RE Amemiya rear canards 
ARP license plate garnish 
SPYDER LED tail lights half tinted 
SPYDER LED 3rd brake light
Modified OEM rear bumper 
Auto EXE rain guards 
GP Sport mirror covers 
Custom 1/1 headlights 
Kei Office eye lids
Nardo Gray paint
RMagic style carbon fiber hood ​

​interior

RMagic weighted shift knob
RMagic tinted rear view mirror in pink
Custom D-Shape steering wheel by Reggie's Custom Wheels
Carbon fiber interior garnish 
LED interior lights in 6000k 
NRG carbon fiber pedals 

performance

Boombop shop cat back with decat 
MazdaSpeed CAI

Why did you choose this car?

Jesse: "When I was gifted this car 11 years ago I didn't know anything about cars at all. My parents liked the way it looked and said the test drive felt great so they got it for me. The other option was a Saturn Sky which I would have been just as happy with. I loved the way the 8 felt earlier in its life so I can see why they liked it during the test drive. Only thing I can say is that I hated the original color, Nordic Green, for a long time. I always called it "poop green" until probably 4 or 5 years ago. After a while I came to love it and see its beauty, but still decided to change it up. After owning it for this long I needed something new-ish to look at."

What was the main goal when the build started?

Jesse: "Keep it original. I know the pandem kit isn't off the beaten path, but I did throw some of my own flavor into the mix. Once I go back to stock body it will be a little more interesting to look at."

Do you have a unique story behind the car or build?

Jesse: "Well, I'm on my first engine with 128,000 miles and no major mechanical issues today or any day before. That is probably about as unique as it gets for a RX-8."

What are your future plans for the car?

Jesse: "Once the rotary inevitably blows I will look around for an already swapped 8. Probably LS unless I can find something interesting. Once I find one I'll swap some of my parts onto it and sell the rest. Ready to get back to stock body after having flares for so long. "

Is there anything you would have done differently if you could go back?

Jesse: "I messed up on this car a couple times. Had it plastidipped by someone that had never sprayed dip a day in his life. It was thin and rough in flat areas like it always is if you don't know what you're doing. It took days, but I took the dip off by hand with a microfiber and Goo-Gone. I wouldn't go back and change anything though. Making mistakes is only natural. Everything I have broke I fixed and everything I bought I installed. I think me and this car have had a great run together."

shoutouts

Jesse: "Shout out to mom and pops for believing in me and trusting me with this car back in the day. Shout out to my beautiful and loving girlfriend Cierra for being interested and understanding of my expensive (and sometimes inconvenient) hobby. Lastly, shout out to all of my friends that have helped me over the many years of modifications I have done to this poor car. I can't really recall everyone but John (johndoubleu92), Gunner (wheresthe10mm), Brandon (67whp), and Vince (vjilly) to name a couple of the main ones."

Follow Jesse and his RX-8 on instagram

​@rotarypowered

Photos by David Salkil

@killallusion